Assessing building performance - an integrated model

Business performance is contingent upon effective use and management of all resources to enhance compentive advantage. However, whilst the recource value of finance, human recources, technology are widely recognized, that of the supporting physical asset (i.e. building or real estate) that houses these resources are not obvious to many corporate managers who sees building-related expenses as a drain on the profit. With the growing focus towards performance measurement, the need to measure the performance of operational building assets has become more pressing, giving rise to a number od issues relating definition and selection of building performance indicators. Operational buildings are at the some time: a physical asset, a functional facility, as well as a business resource. It follows therefore that the measurement of the building performance will be multi-dimensional. Literature on the subject suggests a wide range of views which tended to polarize towards either the measurement of the physical (technical) performance or the financial (cost) performance. Latterly,, the business view of building performance has emerged which focuses on measuring performance in the context of the relationship of building assets with business outcomes. This view supports the underlying principle of building assets as a business resource.This paper advocates an integrated performance concept for the assessment and measurement of operational building assets by adopting a more balanced approach of measuring building performance. The paper will explore the business context, scoping of asset performance, measurement issues and justify the need for an integrated asset performance framework for the evaluation of the contribution of operational buildings as a business resource.Department of Building Services EngineeringRefereed conference pape